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ROSSlNfi MACHINE, 

Be In ^^lovh : 

PHAIR A: CO.. STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 
No. 1 3 Frankfort Stkeet. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Yfar 1872. byCHAELEs Gii.pin. 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, 




CONSIDERED. 



A far farts thdi hare sathjied the writer, irho has 
lieeri enga^^ed in tanning Oak and Hem! or k 
leather for more than thirty-jive years^ of the 
eronomy and general advantages rlerived by di- 
vesting all kinds of Barks of the Ross, t)efore 
grinding them for Leaching or Layaway pur- 
poses, or making Extracts, when it can he done 
at little or no extra expense, vrith a Machine 
thai trill cotrrey the Bark directly into the Mill : 

The question of the ad vantages of llossing bark 
before using it for tanning purposes, or malving extracts, 
ein|)loye<l for pro(bu*ing leather of any kind, is one of 
sutfieient importance, in tlie opinion of many of our 
most ])roniinent manufacturers, to demand an inves- 
tigation, not only from a scientific V)ut a [)ractical point 
of \ie\v. In consideration of this fact, together with 
I lie inquiries that are made in relation to the advan- 
tages to be derived l)y divesting the bark of that por- 
tion known to be valueless for the production ot 
leather, as well as depreciative of the tanning power 
contained in the true bark, the writer proposes to answer 
those (questions which suggest themselves to those con- 
nected with the tamiing interest; and wlio have not 
entirely satisfied their minds by actual demonstration 
that all barks, covered with a heavy layer of old ross, 
should be divested of it. before being leached, or con- 
verted into extract. 

(^ne of the most irrefutable arguments andfacts that 



can l)e adrluced to prove the advantages of takino- off the 
ross is that tliose barks that [jossess the least of tliis sub- 
stance are knovvm to be theniost vahiable, also riclier m 
tanninopowei" : as isilhistrated in tlie merchantable vahie 
in the niarket of the Ha\ S])anish or Fea(th Oak Harks, 
Avhich contain. cotn]>aratively, no ross compared with 
the flesh or true bark. These barks are anxiously 
sought for l>y tanners, who deem them inore |>rolital)le, 
at one-third more cost, than (^hesnut. Oak, and other 
barks tliat contain a heavy coating of ross 

As another fact entitled to great considei'ation with 
those who are skeptical on the subject of rossing bark, 
it is a universal practice, both in F^ngland and (Tcrmany, 
to take the largest proportion of the epidermis from 
old liarks before leaching them : and while it icipiires 
but three and a half to four pounds of their bark to 
make one pound of good servicea])le sole leather, we use 
ten to twelve pounds of the same quality of l)ark and 
produce the same gains in weight. Another fact, equally 
as incontrovertible, is, that one cord of light young bark, 
with little oi- no ross on it, will tan out as many })ounds 
of leather as three cords of very heavy rossed l)ai*k. 
Tliese are facts that any tanner can settle by prac- 
tical tests in his tann<'ry, with little oi" no ex})ense, and 
which his pecuniary interest demands he should at once 
demonstrate to his entire satisfaction. 

I am aware that many tannei's who admit that to 
divest the bark of the old ross that has, fi-om age and 
exposure, been converted into a mass of partially dec-iyed 
vegetable matter, would l)e of great advantage in con- 
centrating the tanning power of the true bark, are de- 
teied from doing so because it is, tirst, too expensive to 



5 

accomplish it by hand ; and, secondly, because they have 
not satisfied themselves of the cai)acityof any machine, 
introduced for this purpose, to accom])lish it iiilly lo 
their satisfaction and without extra expense. T<> 
all sucli, I will say, give the (lilpin & Hill llossi no- 
Machine a fair trial, and their want of faith will \aiiisli 
so soon as they witness the |)erfect manner in whicli it 
it does the work : seeing in this case is l)elieving. 

Why do yon reconnnend that all barks, used for tan- 
ning purposes, should })e divested of the e])idermis or 
ross '? 

First. Be(rause this portion of the bark does not yield 
any tanning principle ; but, on the contrary, will ab- 
sorb it to a greater or less extent, while undergoing tiie 
leaching pi-ocess, either in the regular leac;hes oi-layaways. 
This has been demonstrated under the following pi-actical 
tests : By taking a quantity of ross from the bark, 
grinding it, then leaching it in boiling water for forty- 
eight hours, then remove it to a place where it will be- 
come dry, and expose it to the elements for eight to 
twelve months, it will decay and become earthy matter ; 
for the reason that it has none of the tannin element 
imparted to it to preseve it from de(^om})osition. 

Take the same ross and leach it witli the true bark, 

jor that poi'tion containhig the tannin, and expose it at 

|the same time and manner, and you will discover that 

it has absorbed a suliicient quantity of the tannin from 

I jhe inner bark to jjreserve it for a great length of time, 

|md, Mfhen exposed to those elements tliat are known 

'o destroy all organized vegetable matter, that have 

ad no preserving qualities imparted to them. 

i Second. In natm-e's economy, the laws that regulate 



production in the vegetable as well as the animal king- 
dom, are fixed and cannot be changed by hmnan ingen- 
uity or reason. These laws teach us that all barks are 
divided under this law of economy and preservation, 
into tour distinct and well-defined divisions, which it 
will be well for us to observe and obey in the employ- 
ment of the various kinds of bark for tanning purposes, 
if we would avail ourselves of all the advantages per- 
taining thereto in an economical point of view. 

The four divisions, constituting these barks, are clas- 
sified as follows : 

The cortex, or true bark, which is the real seat of the 
pure tannin, is located immediately in comiection with 
the trunk or body of the tree, extending throughout 
the limbs, and assists in sustaining and })erforming 
those functions that are necessary to the vitality of the 
plant or tree. The vital elements that maintain the sap 
or juices that give vitality, impart growth, and prevent 
decay, are confined to this division, and all the other 
divisions or sections may be removed ; the tree will 
still live and flourish. 

The next division is known as the parenchyma ; this 
is to a considerable extent the seat of color, and is com- 
posed of succulent layers thrown ofi^" by the cortical lay- 
ers, and each succeeding annual layer is ])ushed outward, 
and is transformed into a third division. 

This is known as celular integuments, and is com 
posed of coarse liard fibre that possesses no succulent 
substance or vitality, but designed, by nature, simply as 
a protection to tlie imier formations. 

The foiu'tli and outer division is known among bota- 
nists as the Epidermis, and, technically, called Ross by 



the tanning-fraternity. This is formed, from year to 
year, by the inner divisions, as they have served tlieir 
})ur})ose ; being no longer of any use, except as an ad- 
(Utional protection to those divisions in which tlie vital 
elements reside, and where their functions are performed. 
Let us investigate the composition of this ross, and en- 
deavor to explain its true character and influence ui)on 
the tanning interest of the world, both in regard to 
economy and the quality of the stock produced under 
its influence. 

As all tanners, as well as scientiflc men who have given 
this matter any attention, are aware, most of the barks 
employed for tanning purposes are covered with this 
ross : varying in thickness from one-eighth to three inch 
es, and is deeply furrowed in proportion as the tree be- 
comes old, and as has been practically demonstrated, the 
less of this ross bark contains the more valuable is it known 
to be for tanning purposes, as instanced in the younger 
qualities of barks, and those older barks, such as the Bay 
Spanish and Peach Oaks, which are covered with a 
very thin ross ; this, in my my judgment, alone should 
be suflicient evidence to satisfy every tanner that his in- 
rerest demands that he should discard the old ross, be- 
fore grinding, leaching, or laying away with these 
barks. But when we know that one hundred parts of 
the inner bark contains twent}'-two per cent, of tannin, 
and one hun(h-ed parts of tlie entire bark only contains 
from four to six per cent., it is conclusive evidence that 
a large proportion of the outei- bark not only contains 
10 tannin, but does absorb it, to a considerable extent, 
fvhen allowed to come in contact with it under the 
eaching and layaway })rocesses. 



Again, how is it possible that a material that is con- , 
stantly exposed to the elements, as the ross is, can after J 
a period of from thirty to one hundred years, drenching | 
through countless storms, retain any vital principle, f | 
either tannin or other matter, that it is known can be ex- 
tracted in a few weeks under an ordinary system of | 
leaching, even when the bark is unground. I^et any i 
one who desires to satisfy himself in regfu'd to the in- : 
fluence of drenching I'ains upon the outer back of a tree, ' 
pass through the forest after a heavy tall of rain for i 
several hours, and he will find the bark satui-ated to a 
considerahle extent ; and this being repeated one hun- 
dred times during the year, certainly would have no 
inconsiderable influence in extracting what was extract- | 
able under these influences. Perha[)S, it may be deemed ' 
unnecessary to refer to the influence of this material on 
the quality of the stock, both as regards complection i 
and texture, which are recognized as of sufficient im- ; 
portance among tlie trade to claim their attention ; 
and is believed by those who have investigated the mat- 
ter, to l)e the principal reason why the French and 
Germans excel in imparting a texture, fibre and finish, 
to their stock which we have never been able to accom 
plish, notwithstanding our continued efforts in this 
direction. 

If, as has been demonstrated, every atom of matter 
that is allowed to come in contact with tannin, which 
has an affinity for this substance, will take up an atom 
of tannin, then it follows that a large pei'centage of the 
tannin contained in the true bark is lost to the tanner, 
by allowing that portion of the bark void of tanning 
principle, and in a state of incipient decay, to be ground 



up and jni\t'<l with the true bark, and li<iii<n-s made 
thejetVoMi tlirouoliout the entire tanniniJ^-process. 

That tliis is an iiii<iuestionable result, it is only 
necessai-v to refer to a t'aet that all tainiei's who have 
established new yards have verified : (/. ' .). that it 
repuires fully one-third more bark to tan out a stock 
of leather i)i new vats than in an old yard whei'e 
tlu- \ats have ))ecome thoroughly impregnated with 
tannin. Therefore, it will be apparentto anyone, if the 
hai-d oak, or pitch pine plank will rapidly receive the 
taiming pi'in(-iple from the liquoi". how nnich more read- 
ily will that substance which is ])orous and tlisintegi'a- 
ted. also in a ))artial state of decay, absorb that substance 
\'(ir wliicli from its condition it has a still stronger affin- 
ity. Xcithei- nnist it be assumed tliat this tannin, ab- 
sorbed either by the [)lank, ross, or other matter, that 
has taken it up, will under any ordinary treatment yield 
it uji again, for with these substances, as witli skin ma 
tei'ial. it will remain unalterably fixed until change*! by 
a dissolution of the material by decay, or othei- causes 
that break up natuial and artificial combinations of this 
chai'.-icter. Ft has been estimated by a tanner of large 
exjterience in tbe manufacture of Oak and Hemlock 
leather, that fully 20 per cent, of the tamiing power of 
the bark is lost through the influence of the tilth that is 
allowed to enter the li(|Uors l)y grinding the luaxy bark 
without rossing it. 

lie also informed me he could concentrate a laj'gei' 
amount of strength under the rossing ]>rocess than un- 
der any method in use for this purpose, and had. by lay- 
ing away with rossed bark, turned out a stc»ck of heavy 



10 

sole leatlier in one-third less time than he hadheen aH^ 
to do vyith unrossed bark. 

Some <|uestions that are [)ro|M.unde(l hy a iiumher of 
the trade, with whom I have eome in contact, att- 
swered : 

ri<»\\ ai'c you to determine what (piantity ot'tlic outer 
bark it is necessary to ?"emo\('. and when you ha\e de- 
termined this {)roV)leni, how can the machine he ivii'ula- 
ted to accomplish it ? 

This is ail important (iuesti<Mi. an<l the first part of it 
must he answered l)y the judunient of the manufacture?-, 
who has informed liimself of the condition aii<l tliick- 
ness of tlie ross on the qualities of hark he recei\es at 
his taimei-y. As a general rule, any ta.miei- is jierfectly 
safe in estimating' the (|uantity to he taken otf hy tlie 
thickness of the different ui-ades of hark in which he 
deals; for in diestnut. Oak and red Hemlock, the loss 
determines the age (jf the tree from whicli it was taken, 
and in proportion to the age, is the ross to l>e removed. 
Tlie pro]>ortion to he removed from all hea\y rossed 
harks, ascertained V)y actual ex[>eriment in testing ilio 
tanning [>roperties, is one-third. Those of a thinner 
grade of ross, such as white Fleinlock, 8})anish Oaks, 
ifcc, one-fourth is deemed sufficient among those practi- 
cal tanners who are rosaing their bark. 

Tlie second pait of this question is one that has cost 
the writer mucli thought and time, before the machine 
was brought up to his full ideas of wliat a rossing ma- 
chine sliould be, to fully meet the wants of the trade. 
To meet tliis actual necessity, it was necessary to cof.- 
stnict a machine that would adjust itself to the vai-ioim 
thicknesses of bark passed through it. and in order to 



11 

arcomplivsh this, it was apparent to my mind that the 
upper cyhnder and knife should both he self-adjusting, 
and at the same time tht- arrangement jnust be such that 
the knife eould )«■ giadunted to take off much or little 
in pro[iortio!i t<» thethickiu'ss <»f caeh and every piece of 
bark ]>asst'd l)ct\veen tlie cylinders : and while the Gilpin 
& Dickinson machine gaAe genei'al satisfaction to those 
of the trade who were using it, some thought it might 
l«e impro\ed :m<i math' a perfect instrument for this 
purpose, so as to sntisfy the most exacting ideas enter- 
tained by some of our brethren. This is now accom- 
plishc<l in \]u' (rilpen iV: Hill Improved Hossing Ma- 
cliine. the knife of which is regulated by a graduating 
le\ei- that can be set bef »re startingthe machine, to take 
otf of e\ery piece of any pioportion from one-eighth to 
two oi' more inches. The regulator being attached to 
the shaft of the uppei' Cylinder, which is elevated in pro- 
}>ortion to the thickness of each [(iece of V)ark, thus 
[•lacing i]i tlie han<ls of evei'y tanner a machine that 
will o})erate in conformity to his views, in taking off 
unichor little, and instead of leaving each piece of bark 
rossed the same thickness, ;d'ter it leaves the machine, it 
is reduced exactly in proportion to its thickness before 
entering the machine. Tims it will be seen that the 
(piantity to betaken off is entirely undei" the control of 
tlie manufacturer. 

What, in youi' o))inion, from experience, is the inilu- 
ence of the ross on the Ihjuors ' 

I have made several experiments in order to test this 
influence fully, and discovered that a liquor rruide from 
rC'Ssed bark was pure, void of dark sediment, and many 
shades lighter in color than a liquor made from unrossed 



12 

bark. After making n liquor tioin both corHlitiorjfs ot 
bju'k. (/.^.) i'Osse(i aii<l uiu-osserl, aixl caivfully <irnwiijg 
Miein off and letting tlieni staiul tbi- a shoit time, a 
large (juantity of tiltliy matter was found in the bottom 
of the vessel containing the li(inor genernted fi-oni the 
unrossed bai'k, whic.li as a consequence coriupted the 
entire liquid to a greater oi' less extent in |)ropoition to 
its presence. The liquoi- made from the rossed bnrk 
precipitated a small poi'lion of light sediment, and the 
liquor was a bright light color, resej)il)]ing pah' sheny 
wine. 

T had l)oth liquoi's nnalyze<l, tiic same quantity of 
bark by weight having l)een use<l to j>ro(luce those 
liquors. The bark enqtloyed was about two inches 
thick, and I removed thi'ee-foui'ths <»f an inch fivun one 
half of it. And the analysis showed that a large propoi'- 
lion of the weight manifested under the test, made by j 
the Barkometer, was attributable to the gi-eatei- quantity 
of tilth contained in the li(jUor ]»i-oduced from um'ossed j 
bark. For the reason, that altlmugh the «|uantity of , 
rossed bark leached, was little moie than one-half the i 
tpiantity of um'ossed bark leached.it demonstrated under i 
the analytical test made by Professor Meyer, fnlly one- ! 
tliird mo]-e grains of tannin to the wine gallon of liquor. | 

Under what pro(>ess were these lif|uoi-s produced ? f 

They were made from pure water, under a tonpera- J 
tureof 160" F. and the bark was allowcl to leach for i 
forty -eight liours. 1 

Have you made any ex}>eriments with the loss to 
satisfy you that it possesses little oi- no tamiing |»owei', 
and demonstrated tljat it will absoi'l) tannin ' 

Yes : I have repeatedly made liquors Iron] b<:>tli the 



13 

ross of oak and hemlock barks, and endeavored to pro- 
duce leather therefrom. In these cases I have taken 
one-third of the outer substance from heavy barks, 
ground them, leached them in boiling water, for from 
thirty-six to forty-eight hours, drawn them oft] and after 
being sufficiently cooled, immersed pieces of hide in them 
for months, and the result was that the pieces of skin were 
colored through, became quite black with coloring mat- 
ter, but when withdrawn from the liquid and dried, were 
found to have lost weight and were hard and crisp, like 
dried rawhide, and would have perished entirely if the 
operation liad not been carried on in a cool place during 
the fall and winter montlis. That the ross will, like any 
other substance that has an affinity for tannin, take u|) 
and retain it, I have demonstrated beyond controversy, 
by the following experiment. A quantity of strong 
liquor made from rossed bark was placed in a vessel and 
then charged with the ross taken from bark ranging in 
thickness from five-eighth to two inches, and allowed to 
remain for forty eight hours, after which it was with- 
drawn and allowed to drain over the vessel ; it was re- 
turned to tlie liquor aiid remained one week longer, at 
the end of which time, it was found to have taken up 
the principal portion of tl»e tannin from the liquor, and 
converted the balance into gallic acid. The vessel being 
tightly covered during the operation, prevented the pos- 
sibility of any of the tannin contained in the liquor from 
escaping during the operation. This ross was after- 
wards leached in water for ten days, at a temperature of 
200*^ F., and although the water became highly colored, 
no trace of tannin could be discovered after the most 
careful analysis. 



14 

As further proof of the necessity of exchuliiig from 
our liquors all extraneous matter that tends to corrupt 
them, and absorb tannin, I will refer to an experiment 
that came under my observation, and wliich I exam- 
ined with much interest. For the purpose of kee})ing 
the leather in the layaway from pressing too closely to- 
gether, several bags of cork shavings were procured and 
distributed over the surface of the lieavy layer of bark, 
with which each side was sprinkled as they were laid 
down. 

This, it was thought, would facilitate the tanning op- 
eration, by allowing the liquor to circulate freely through- 
out the entire pack. Another pack was laid away on 
the same day in the usual way, the same quantity of 
bark being employed for both. After the expiration of 
one month, both packs were drawn. The result proved 
that the cork shavings, which are known from their na- 
ture to be more impervious to water than almost any 
other crude vegetable substance, had taken uj) nearly all 
the tannin ; from the fact that the leather, instead of hav- 
ing advanced, as was expected, had actually flattened 
under the experiment, while that laid away with the 
same quality of bark and liquor, was nearly tanned, 
very plumj), and was a fine specimen of leathei- in every 
respect. 

I have repeatedly tested the influence upon the stock, 
of laying away with rossed bark as compared vv itii un- 
rossed bark, and have under every test been confirmed 
in my belief that the advantages are decided in point 
of economy, both in material and tune, also in the ap- 
pearance and quality of the stock produced. 

Why should we allow foreign matter to be amalga- 



15 

mated with our extracts or tanning liquors, when it can 
he avoided without additional expense compared with 
the advantages '? 

There can certainly be no substantial reason })resen- 
ted against jnaking our liquors as pure and concentra- 
ting as much of the real tannin principle contained in 
the bark as practicable. No question of tlie actual ad- 
vantages of divesting every other substance employed 
for the purpose of making extracts, tinctures, dyestuffs, 
and all materials, both mineral and vegetable, that enter 
into the manufacturing departments, of their extraneous 
components, even at much time and expense, before ap- 
]>lying them to the various purposes for which they are 
intended. When we consider the vast quantity of really 
worthless and obnoxious matter that is allowed to pass 
through the bark mill, and become distributed through 
the liquors contained in one of oui- large tanneries, 
which is demonstrated by the enormous quantity of 
tilth that accuinulates in the stowes of one of these es- 
tablishments, it seems almost incredible that tanners 
do not at once avail themselv es of the means at hand of 
getting rid of this matter, that imparts an objectiona- 
ble color to the stock, and takes from it a considerable 
portion of the tannin that would be taken up by the 
skins. 

Nothing is more easily done than for every tanner to 
satisfy himself of the facts set forth in the foregoing 
statements. Among the strongest ai-guments in favor 
of our views, is that not a single tanner, who has our 
machine in use, could be induced to dispense with it, 
and some have, by its inliuence upon the stock in one 
of their Yards, ordered other machines for their other 



16 

Yards, aTid several have informed the writer tliat tlieir 
stock has advanced several cents ]>er ])ound in the inai'- 
ket, since they have used one of our machines. 

Some reasons why the (Tilpin & Hill Iiuj)roved 
Kossing Machine is superior to any Machine ofterc^d to 
tlie trade. 

I am aware that most of the Kossing Machines in 
ti'oduced have not given entire satistaction to those who 
have employed tlieni : and having witnessed the opera- 
tion of all of them, except an im[)rovement made on 
one, and also having seen the model of this one at the 
Patent Otiice, I discovered wherein the improvement 
must be made to give to the trade a Kossing Machine 
that would ross every quality and description of bark, 
embracing the hardest S])anish Oak, as well as the soft- 
est Hemlock, either in the woods or at the tannery, in a 
manner that would meet the various ideas entertained 
by difl^erent manufacturers, in relation to renu>ving 
much or little of tlie ross, as in their judgment might 
be re(|uired, in pro])ortioH to the thickness of each piece 
of l)ark passed through the machine. This, T feel fully 
guaranteed in stating, has been accomplished in the 
Automatic Knife arrangement introduced by (Til])en & 
Hill in their Improved Machine. This arrangement is 
such that a boy twelve years old may adjust it by means 
of the gi-aduating lever by which the knife is set to take 
off of a piece of bark from one-eighth to one or more 
inches, in proportion to its thickness, so that every tan- 
ner, however scrupulous he may be in regard to en- 
croaching on the seat of the tamiing ju'inciples of his 
bark material, will feel perfectly secure in this i-espect 
in using the Gilpin & Hill Improved Kossing Machine, 



17 



which are warranted to accomphsh the work thoroughly 
and rapidly, and will ross nioi'e Imrk in a driven time 
than any other machine ever introduced to the trade, 
and is the only machine ever invented that will ross all 
kinds of bark, either in the woods or at the tannery. 



IDIIREOTIOISrS 

FOK 

SETTING ANI^ STARTING 

THE 

GILPIN & HILL 

(MPliVlft 80SSIW® MAillll. 



This Machine, l)eing constructed of iron and cast steel, 
nnd weighing- about 1,300 pounds, if placed on a solid 
foundation and elects nailed against the feel, will not 
be liable to change position. 

The Machine being put together, ready for work, be- 
fore leaving the Foundry, it is only necessary to attach 
the feed and ross apron, which can be done in a tew 
mimites, place the [nilly on the Machine (which is four- 
teen inches in diameter and six inches broad), 0})posite 
the pully on the driving shaft, arrange the strap and 
start the machine. The shaft to whicli the pully on the 
Macliine is attached, is of sutiicient length to allow it to 
be placed on either end, to suit the position of the mill 
or gearing, whichever way it may run. The i)ulley, be- 
ing arranged with set screws, can be removed from one 
end of the shaft and attached to the other, in live min- 



18 

utes. The Machine sliould be geared for rossing heavy 
oak bark to nm at a speed of two hundred revolutions 
per minute. For liernlock bark, one liundred revolutions 
is sufficient ; for the former two liorse -power will do 
the work thoroughly; for the latter, one horse power is 
amj)le. This Machine will ross all the bai-k, per day, 
that four men can feed it, and will guarantee, if worked 
up to its full capacity, seventy-five coi'ds of Chestnut- 
Oak bark may be rossed within ten hours. A roller is 
attached for driving an endless carrier, that will convey 
the rossed bai'k direi'tly into the mill ; therel)y requir- 
ing no extra labor to feed it, and boys from twelve to 
thirteen years old, can feed the rosser, even to greater 
advntage than men. The Machine is so firmly built 
that it is neither liable to get out of order or break, and 
may V)e run, for years, witliout extra ex[)ense. 

The knife should be kept sharp and will require 
whetting, at least once a week, if ten cords of bark ai'e 
rossed per day. This de})ends, however, mainly on the 
quality of bark rossed: in ro-i-iing h;ird Spmish Oak, 
the knife nuist be ke})t sharp, and tlieone opei'ating the 
Machine, will readily discover when the knife re<piires 
whetting or grinding. The knives are mude of the 
best cast steel, and are never known to break in rossijig 
the hardest quality of Spanish or Chestnut Oak bark. 
The price of the Machine, complete, loaded on the cars 
at CumberLand, Maryland, is $275, and warranted to 
accomplish all we claim for it in every respect. 

T"'his Machine is an improvement on the Gilpin & 
Dickinson Rossing jMachine, acknowledged to be the 
best in the market prior to the introduction of the 
Gilpin c% Hill Improvement, and which the writer was 



19 

impressed with the importance of, some time before it 
was introduced. As an evidence of the importance of 
this improvement, anc attach the certificates of some 
of the leading' o-entlenien in the trade, who liave wit- 
nessed the o))eration of the working' Model of a 
Gilpin & Hill Iniprove<l JMachhie. 
For further particular address, 

(IILPIN & HILL, 

CUMBEEI-AND, Md. 



THE GILPIN & HILL 

IMPROVED 

lfiS>iil't, SA(fHl| 

Patented Jufij 2d, 7<V7V. 



This is an improvement on the (Gilpin tt Dickinson 
Rossing\Machiiie, so Ikvorably known t«f) the trade. 

The im}>rovenient consists in the introduction of the 
automatic knife and graduated regulator, by Avhich tlie 
knife is elevated in proportion to the thickness of the 
bark passed between the cylinders, and is adjusted to 
take from the bark, in proportion to its thickness, any 
(pumtity of the ross, from one-eighth of an inch \\\) to 
one or more inches, as may be desired by the manufac- 
turer. 

It is deemed by those who have examined the (iilj)in 
&j Hill iinprovement that it is the most etheient ma- 
chine ever offered to the trade, as the following testimo- 
nials will represent. The automatic knife may he at- 
tached to the (xUimi c& Dickinson Machine : 



20 

We have examined a working model of the " Gilpin 
& Hill Improved Rossing Machine," which, fi-om its 
0|)eration, we believe to V)e the most ])ertect machine 
for rossing all kinds of l)Mik now on the market. 

ITOYT B1{()TIIEHS. 

Nkw Vokk, June, 1872. 

Having witnessed the oi)i'ration of a working model 
of the (lilpin ife Hill InijU'oved Ilossing Machine, I have 
no hesitation in recommending it as Ihe most eihcient 
machine oi^'ered to the trade, for the reason that, hv 
mcnns of the antoniatic knife jukI its arrangements, the 
mnchine is entirely self-Mdjusting. 

I.. A. UOBEKTSON. 

Nkw VoitK, .lune. 1S72. 

M.MvingexamiiKMl a working model of Messrs. (iilpin 
& Ililfs m|)roved Ilossing Macliine. we are fully sMtis- 
tied that the introduction of the autom.-itic knife su|> 
plies the deficiency heretofore existing in machines in 
troduced for rossing bark. The knife is so arranged 
that it will take off the re(|uired (piantity from a thin 
or thick piece of any khid of bark, being entirely selt- 
adjusting, and recommend it tv) the trade as the most 
])erfect machine introduced for this purpose. 

J. B. HOYT .t CO. 

Nkw Yokk, June, 1S72. 

I have examined the Improved liossing Machine of 
Messrs. Gil|)in & Hill, anti liave no hesitation in saying 
tothos«< tanners who wish to ross theii" bark, that this 
machine will do it satisfactorilv. 

.1. s. sc;iun/rz. 

Nkw Yohk, June, 1872. 

FoK KULK rAKTICUI>AHS ADDHKSS 

GH.PJN & HHJ., 

Cumberland, Md. 



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